by INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis women’s basketball team came up short in a hard-fought contest against Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday night, falling 79-71. The Jaguars held the lead for the majority of the game, but the Mastodons mounted a strong fourth-quarter rally to close out the victory.
Purdue Fort Wayne opened the game with a quick three-pointer, but the Jags quickly regained their composure and defended their home court. IU Indy shot 42.9% from the field in the first quarter, including a pair of three-pointers, while forcing six turnovers from the Mastodons. That strong defense helped the Jaguars take a 14-10 lead after the opening period.
In the second quarter, Purdue Fort Wayne grabbed an 8-4 advantage on the boards, but IU Indy responded from beyond the arc. The Jaguars hit four three-pointers in the quarter, including back-to-back triples from Shania Nichols-Vannett, to hold on to a four-point lead at halftime, 32-28.
The third quarter was another strong effort for the Jaguars, as they extended their lead by outscoring the Mastodons 25-22. Four more three-pointers, including a buzzer-beater from Jada Patton, gave IU Indy a 57-50 advantage heading into the final quarter.
However, the Mastodons came alive in the fourth quarter, igniting a 15-0 run midway through the period to seize control of the game. Purdue Fort Wayne’s Sydney Freeman was a key catalyst, scoring eight of the team’s final 10 points during an 8-3 run that helped extend the lead. Lauren Ross then sealed the victory for the Mastodons, knocking down five consecutive free throws in the final minutes to put the game out of reach.
Nichols-Vannett led the Jaguars with 24 points, four rebounds, and three steals, while Faith Stinson contributed 14 points. Jada Patton added 11 points and Alexa Hocevar grabbed six rebounds to lead the team on the boards.
